Safety razor



y 1938- v w. H. HUENERGARDT' 2,124,402

SAFETY RAZOR Filed June 15, '1934 mum I I 1 I HI Hhh- H V fizvenZw d' %liam rzefleryrndi,

Patented July 19, 1938 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY RAZOR William H. Huenergardt, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 15, 1934, Serial No. 730,697

9 Claims. (01. 30-40) This invention relates to razors and more par- ,A further object is to provide an improved razor ticularly to safety razors, although certain feablade that has a width. substantially less than tures thereof may be employed with equal adone-half of its length so as to present an inexpenvantage for other purposes. sive as well as readily disposable blade.

5 It contemplates more especially the provision Still a further. object is to provide a substan- 6 of a novel razor that precludes the necessity for tially elongated razor blade that has a Width manual blade manipulation or handling with the substantially less than one-halfof its length with fingers for placement and removal in the use a plurality of transverse regions of weakness for thereof for shaving purposes. ready destruction and safe disposal.

10 Many types of razors have heretofore been A still further object is to provide an improved 10 employed for shaving purposes and they have razor blade container that affords independent been generally used for home shaving. It is true, removal of the blades as 'well as'provides for the nevertheless, that the use of razors in the home disposal thereof responsive to manipulation of a presents a problem of blade manipulation, banrazor in cooperation therewith.

dling, as well as the hazards accompanying the Other objects and advantages will appear from 1 handling thereof with the fingers for placement the following description of an' illustrated emand removal relative to the razor or holder utibodiment of the present invention.

lized therewith for shaving purposes. This is In the drawing:

especially true in connection withsafety razors Figure lis-a side view in elevation of a razor that have detachably associated razor blades of blade; holder embodying features of the present 20 a hazardous nature so far as handling is coninvention, the dotted, outline showing the blade cerned. 3 holding parts in released position. 7 I

It is manifest, therefore, that the provisionof Figure 2 is av front view in elevation of the a holder, blade, and container therefor that enrazor, shown in Figure 1.

ables the transfer of blades from one to the other -Figure,,3 is a plan view of a razor showing a 25 without the requirement for manual handling blade in operative position for shaving. with the fingers in the use thereof, presents a Figure! is a'fr y Side View in eleVatiOn rather important advantage which overcomes the of the razor cap and guard in conjunction with hazards that are present in home shaving from the blade preparatory to displacing the blade .a standpoint of manual handling with the fingers, guard to its operative position. 30 blade manipulation for association with the hold- Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially er, and eventual disposal of the blades that in along line VV of Figure 2.] I and of itself is a serious and hazardous problem Figure 6 is a front view in elevation of a razor from a shavers standpoint. Then, vtoo, effective blade container or magazine embodying features single hand manipulation of a razor for receiving of the present. invention, parts thereof being 35 a blade, removing the blade, and effecting the broken away to clarify the showing.

replacement of blades without the required han- Figure '7 is a sectional view taken substantially dling with the fingers, solves a problem in home along line VII-VII of Figure 6 with the razor shaving that longexisted and has evaded a solushown in cooperation therewith to effect the re: 0 tion in the provision of-a simple, inexpensive, and moval or deposition of a blade relative thereto. 40

efiicient razor, blade, .and blade container (mm Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially struction. along line VIII--VIII of Figure 6 with the con- One object of the present invention is to protainer closure, in its operative position for fully vide an improved razorthat is capable of single confining the blades therein. 5 hand blade manipulation both in the use thereof Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially as well as preparatory thereto. along line IX-'-IX ofFigure, 6 with the closure Another object is to provide an improved razor removed to present an opening. through which blade holder that is capable of single hand mathe blades can be deposited or removed.

nipulation for the retention and release of the I Figure 10 is an end view of the container shown I blade to meet shaving requirements. in Figure 6. 50

' Still another object is to provide an improved Figure 11 is a plan view of a razor blade that,

razor that is capable of effecting the manipula is utilized'in connection with the razor and contion of a blade for retention and release so as to tainer disclosed in Figures 1 and 6, respectively.

effect blade substitution without the manual han- The structureselectedfor illustration comprises lin with the fingers, a handle member III which is elongated and of 55 any desired configuration to enable manual grasp and manipulation thereof in conjunction with a blade holder II which is integrally or otherwise connected thereto through the medium of an elongated shank I2 of substantially rectangular cross-section. As shown, the holder II comprises the top cap member and is of substantially rectangular configuration to provide an off-set blade engaging surface I3. The off-set blade engaging surface I3 defines a shoulder I4 that is adapted to confront a'guard member I5 which has an extension I6 possessed of a curved edge H to present serrations I8 defined by transverse slots I9 at uniformly spaced intervals therealong.

In consequence thereof, the serrated edge 7I 'I serves as a razor blade guard in a manner customary with safety razor operation-for-displacement along the skin to be shaved. .The guard member I5 corresponds in configuration andis some- What shorter than the cap member II,;butlex-, I

tends laterally therefrom so ,as to enable the confronting applicatipn thereto without obstructing the serrated edge I'I and its slots I3. .In the present instance, the guard member I5 has a surface 20 confronting the.blade sustaining surface I3 of the cap member II to serve as a complement thereof with the perpendicularly related sur a .21 adiac n jt e ap ofthe a emb r I I h y efinin perpt ndigular y related-su faces -l and f2 0. .2'I on bot th .sapji ember ll an s ardm mbe litr sne t vel fl as to receive a blade 22 therebetween. 'rhejblad 1 is; re ained eain th Se r tions 23 and 24 comprisingapartof the serrated edge ll of the guard J5. As shown, the end serrations23 and24 are provided withflan elevated formation definin shoulders25 thatreceivethe blade shaving edge 26 thereagainstfor positioning relative to studs 21 m ounted foregrtension from the surface I3 ofth e'ecapmember II. 'The studs 2] affordregistry with perforations 2 8n pr,o-

' vided in the blade 22 ,in' ,correspondingly spaced relation ,therewithso asto efiect registry therebetween to preclude lateral movement. Sothatthe studsZ'I, do not serve as an obstruction tothe guard I5, the latter is provided with correspondingly 'shapedgrooves 2.9 for freelyreceiving the studsjl thereintofallow the guard I5 to lie flush with and contact thesurface ofthe ,blade ,22 which is thus supported against the surface I3,of thecap or holderII. r

It is worthy of note that the apertures ,ZBJthat cooperate with the studs 21 Jon the eap II, also serve to Weaken the blade 22 along transverse regions so as to enable the readydestruction of the entire blade 22 intominute segments forgonvenient disposal with safety. To this end; the blade 22 may. be provided with any number qf additional apertures 30, in .this instance ne, dis ed e medi t t e a e u es 335032 1 th bladecanbere'duced to at leastfour segments for flushing disposalby placement in the lavatory c s itutin h cu toma y ba hroom acilit This is especially e ifictive incpnjrmction the elongated blade 22 which has a width substantially less than one-half of {its length seas to render the segments eomparatively rninpte, light, andreadily disposable in the manner referred to supra. .In the present embodiment, the blade 22 has a width that is approximately oneeighthofits length, and the provision of .the perforations ,283,U weakens the already transversely ,-delicate b1ade 22 so as toenable the destructionthereof into segments ,without any difficultym .-T

In order to hold the blade 22 in position against the fiat surface I3 of the cap II, a blade engaging member 3I is reciprocally mounted relative to the cap member II. To this end, the shank I2 is furcated to receive the blade retaining member 3I therebetween for reciprocal guidance by means of pins 32 and 33 that bridge the furcations of the shank I2 to cooperate with slots 34 and 35 communicating with the edges 36 and 31, respectively, of the retaining member 3I. The reciprocable member 3I is provided with a blade engaging projection 38 that confronts the flat surface I3 of the cap member II and constitutes a complement thereof to retain a blade 22 there- :rb tween.

In order to urge the reciprocable member 3| -with-its -blade:engaging projection 38 to its normally,,operative position against the surface l3 of the cap member I I, a coiled spring 39 is confined inea-llvertical bore 40 provided in the member 3I to eommimicatew th he b mede l thereof, thespringifi 'bei e n mall of a ea l h than the bore 40 .s o as to engage the bottom surface 4| defined by thefurcations of the shank I2, thereby n orm ally displacing the reciprocable merhber1-3l verticallyupwardly or in'the direction of thejlat surface I3 of the cap member II so that the confronting complement 38 will be in engagement therewith to normally retain a blade 22 therebetween with its ground shaving edge.26 in exposed application to the serrated edge IT to enablethe effective use thereof'for shaving purp se I, e

To insure a predetermined movement between the guard member I5 and the blade holder or cap II as well as to guide the confronting approach thereof,.the guardmember I5 is provided with furcationsAZand 43 that are properly spaced to receive the furcated shank I2 therebetween to guide the reciprocal movement of the guard member I5.rel atiye to the cap member II. So that the guard member I5 will not be separable from the gap member .II beyond controlled movement relative thereto, a spacer rod 44 bridges the levers 42, a nd 43 toengage the inclined edge 45 of the shank I2 so as to guide the relative movement between the cap member II and guard I5 so that one serves as a complement of the other in blade engaging position. In order that the movement of the guard member I5 may be eifcted relative to the cap member .II responsive to single handmanipulation, a bell -crank lever 45 has furcated arms 41 and 48 whichreceivethe reduced extension .49 of the furcated shank I2 therebetween so as tobe in substantial alignment with thefurcations thereof and to be telescopically received. by the lever furcations 42 and 43 of e ue dmemb r 5.

It isto benoted that thefurcated lever arms 41 and 43 of thebell-crank lever 46 are pivotally mounted ,on the reduced portion 49 of thefurcated shank I2 by means of a pin 50 which extends completely therethrough to serve as a pivotal mounttherefor. The furcations 42 and 43 are, in turn, connected to the lever arms 41 and 48 by means of individual pins 5| and 52 which pivotally connect the extremities of the furcations42 and 43 to arms 41 and .48 of the bellcrank lever 4'6, thereby rendering the guard member I5 responsive to the thumb manipulated action thereof. The arms 41 and 48 of the lever 46 are pronouncedlycurved as at 53 to constitute a camming surface against the shoulders 54 defined by the reduced shank portion in conjunction with its furcated shank .I-2 to impart the desired movement to the guard I5 as well as to lock it in operative position to sustain the blade 22 against the cap surface |3 when the bell-crank lever 46 is displaced to its extreme counter-clockwise position (viewed-from Figure 1) so as to engage-the inclined edge 45 of the shank l2.

To this end, Ithe camming edge 53 of the furcated lever 46 terminates in an angular edge that constitutes a complement of the shoulders 54 defined by the furcated shank |2 in conjunction with the reduced portion 49 thereof so as to. be locked in position thereagainst owing to the pivotal relation of the 'furcations 42-43 and lever arms 41-48 that have off-set pivots 50 and 5| -52 to present a desirable toggle action. In order to release the blade 22 from its engaged position between the capsurface I3 and the retaining member 3|, the latter is provided with a lateral extension 56 proximate to the lower edge 31 thereof to define an inclined surface'51 disposed in the path of the guard member l5 which recedes from the cap member responsive to the thumb manipulation of the lever 46 in a clockwise direction (viewed from Figure 1). It will be apparent, therefore, that the substantially rectangular cutout 58 provided in the guard member IE to receive the furcated shank l2. with its intermediate retaining member 3|, will engage the inclined cam surface 51 of the lateral retaining member extension 56 so as to displace the blade engaging extension 38 thereof from operative blade engaging position.

In consequence thereof, the blade retaining member 3| is displaced from the cap member against the urge of the spring 39 responsive to the thumb manipulation of the bell-crank lever 46 in a clockwise direction (dotted outline of Figure 1) so that theguard member 5 will engage the surface 51 and thus displace the retaining member 3| therewith to release the blade 22. Partial manual release of the bell-crank le-v ver 46 will return the blade retaining member 3| to its operative blade engaging position owing to the spring 39 and the manipulation of the lever 46 is only operative so far as the blade retaining member 3| is concerned, in its extreme clockwise position (viewed from Figure 1) and only for a fractional movement thereof, thereby accomplishing the grasping of the blade 22 between the cap member II and the engaging projection 38 irrespective of the position of the guard member l5 relative to the cap member II.

In order to retain the blades 22 in an orderly protected manner as well as to afford the utilization thereof without direct handling with the fingers, a novel container or magazine is provided therefor. The container comprisesin this instance, a cylindrical casing that includes discshaped. end members 66 and 6| having an intermediate cylindrical member 62 comprising two complemental sections 63 and 64. As shown, the disc-shaped end. members 66 and 6| are provided with circumferential or peripheral flanges 65 that define annular confronting grooves 66 in both end members 60 and 6| for receiving the edges of the casing sections 63 and 64 therein in order to comprise an enclosure.

The sections 63 and 64 are movable in the annular confronting grooves 66 of the discs filland 6|,and the aforesaid parts are maintained in assembled relation by means of a rod 61 extending axially therethrough to engage the end members 66 and 6|, thereby maintaining the desired spaced relation thereof and affording circumferential displacement of the sections 63 and 64 relative to each other and to the end members 60 and 6|. In order to support a plurality of blades 22 for confinement in the container, the end members 66 and 6| are provided with. a plurality of radially directed or arranged slots 68, in this instance ten, that extend to the periphery of the discs 60 and 6| and terminate short of the axes thereof to support the blades 22 owing to the engagement of the end extensions 69 and 16 that protrude beyond the ground shaving edge 26 of the blade 22.

In consequence thereof, the blades 22 are supported with their blunt edge 1| proximate to the periphery of the container sections 63 and 64 that are so related and formed as to provide limited relative movement therebetween to define an opening 12. To this end, the casing section 63 is provided withan off-set portion 13 so as to be displaced laterally of the section 64 which is crimped as at 14' for a distance to limit the overlapping relation of the section 63 relative to the section 64 as at 15 commensurate with or a distance slightly greater than the opening 12 (Figure 9). As shown, the casing section 63 is provided with an outwardly directed flange 16 that enables the manipulation thereof for circular displacement relative to the casing section 64 as well as the end discs 66 and 6|.

In order to index the position of the casing sections 63 and 64 relative to each other as well as to' define the opening 12 in exact radial alignment with each blade 22 mounted in the slots 68 of the end discs 66 and 6| a plurality of lugs or trips 11 are provided on the end disc member 6| to extend in the longitudinal direction of the casing sections 63 and 64. The trips 1'! correspond in number to the blade capacity of the container as defined by the radial slots 68, and these trips l1 extend in the path of the flange 16 for obstruction thereto and to permit limited movement between each successive trip 11 as such are bent out of the path of the flange 16. The trips 11 are stamped or otherwise shaped on the end disc member 6| for positioning substantially in accordance with the spacing of the razor blades 22 therein,these correspond fore, to index the position of the next new blade 22 in the container. Then, too, each of the slots 66 may be numbered on the end surface of the disc 60 to provide indicia, in this instance from 1 to 10 which number the blades that remain therein, and each trip 11 is positioned so as to be obstructed by the flange 16 and a stop 78 provided on the casing sections 63 and 64, respectively. Consequently, the casing section 63 is capable of being displaced so that the flange 16 will engage a lug 11 in a direction to close the opening 12.

When'the next blade 22 is desired for use in connection with the razor of the type described supra, the projection 14 on the casing section 64 will be manipulated so as to effect the displacement thereof in a direction corresponding with the previously displaced section 63 until the sections 6364 are overlapped as at 13 to their limit, thereby again effecting a predetermined opening 12 to render accessible the succeeding blade 22 which will be inregistry therewith. Of course, the casing section 63 cannot be displacedto close the opening 72 until the trip 17 in engagement therewith is bent upwardly as at '19 so as to permit the closure of the opening 12. Subsequent or a repeated intermittent movement of the section 64 in the same direction effects another opening 12 over the next succeeding blade 22. In this manner, the opening 12 is successively indexed for communication with succeeding blades 22. Thus, the casing sections 53 and 64 are intermittently displaced for distances corresponding with the opening 12 so as to suecessively communicate and effect registry with succeeding blades until the last has been used. When all the new blades have been used, the flange 16 on the section 63 will engage a stop or trip 80 provided on the disc 60. Then, too, the

indicia 1 to 10 on the-end surface of the disc 60 also indicates the number of blades that have been used when considered in conjunction with the position of the flange 12 disposed relative thereto.

Now, then, in order to transfer the blade or blades 22 from the container described supra to the razor without finger contact with the blades 22, the razor handle I is grasped by the attendant and the toggle lever 46 thumb manipulated to substantially assume its dotted line position as shown in Figure 1. With additional thumb force imparted to the lever 46 in a clock-v wise direction (viewed from Figure 1), the blade retaining member 3| releases its frictional engaging'extension 38 from the used blade 22 therein so as to enable the removal thereof and/or its deposit in an unoccupied slot 68 provided in the container ends BI] and BI. Thereupon, the casing section 63 is displaced in a clockwise direction (viewed from Figure 9) to close the opening 12. A successive new blade is then rendered available by displacing the casing section 64 in a corresponding direction (clockwise as viewed from Figure 9) until the crimped projection 14 engages the other end of the section 63 to define another opening 12 above the successive blade 22.

The razor Ill is then held in the hand of the attendant who again depresses the toggle lever 46 to effect the separation of the retaining member 3i from the cap member ll so as to receive the blade" edge H therebetween with the perforations 28 in registry with the studs 21. Whereupon, the toggle lever 46 is released by the thumb so that the spring '39 will efiect the grasp of the blade 22 for removal from the container with the cap II preparatory to'shaving. The guard member I5 is then displaced with a continuing motion of the thumb so that the lever 46 will be moved in a counterclockwise direction (viewed from Figure 1) to assume its operative position. Succeeding blades 22 can thus be deposited and/ or removed to or from the slots 68 in the container ends 60 and 6| until the entire container has been filled with used blades for disposal purposes. Of course, the old blades 22 need not be redeposited in the slot 68 of the container, but can be disposed by reducing such to segments in a manner described supra, and placed in a lavatory for safe disposal as previously'suggested.

With the arrangement of parts above described, it will be apparent that a novel, simple, inexpensive and effective razor, razor blade, and container therefor, have been provided to render home shaving more convenient, inexpensive, and devoid of the usual hazards and concern that usually accompanies ordinary blade disposal. Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described without-departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Ina razor, the combination with a handle, of a guard member associated with said handle, a cap member to confront said guardmember for receiving a razor blade therebetween, lever mounting means for effecting relative movement betweensaid guard and cap members, and means for releasably holding a razor blade in a predetermined position between said members irrespective of their relative movement, said releasable blade holding means being responsive to said lever means.

2. In a razor, the combination with a handle, of a guard member associated with said handle, a cap member to confront said guard member for receiving a razor blade therebetween, lever mounting means for effecting relative movement between said guard and cap members, and. spring impelled means for releasablyholding a razor blade in a predetermined position between said guard and cap members responsive to said lever means irrespective of the relative movement between said guard and cap members.

3. In a razor, the combination with a handle, of a guard member associated with said handle, a cap member to confront said guard member for receiving a razor blade therebetween, lever mounting means for effecting relative movement between said guard and cap members, spring impelled means for releasably holding a razor blade in a predetermined position between said guard and cap members responsive to said lever means irrespective of the relative movement between said guard and cap members, and means interposed'between said blade holding and lever means to enable the release and grasp of a razor blade responsive to'the manual action of said lever means.

4. In a razor, the combination with a handle, of a guard member associated with said handle, a cap member to confront said guard member for receiving a razor blade therebetween, lever mounting means .for effecting relative movement between said guard and cap members, and means reciprocable relative to one of said'members for holding a razor blade in a predetermined 'position' between said members irrespective of their relative movement.

'5. In a razor, the combination with a handle,

of a guard member associated with said handle,

a cap "member to confront said guard member for receiving a razor blade therebetween, lever mounting means for effecting relative movement between said guard and cap members, and spring impelled means reciprocable relative to'said cap member for holding a razor blade in a predetermined position between said 'members irrespective of their relative movement.

6. In a razor, the combination with a handle, of a guard member associated with said handle, a cap ,member to confront said guard member for receiving a razor blade therebetween, lever mounting means having a toggle action for effecting relative movement between said guard and cap members, and spring impelled means reciprocable relative to said cap member for holding a razor blade in a predetermined position between said members irrespective of their relative movement.

7. In' a razor, the combination witha handle, of a'guard member associated with said handle, a cap member to confront said guard member said guard and cap members, and spring impelled means reeiprocable relative to said cap member for holding a razor blade in a predetermined position between said members irre- I spective of their relative movement.

8. In a razor, the combination with a handle, of a guard member associated with said handle, a cap member to confront said guard member for receiving a razor blade'therebetween, thumb operated lever mounting means having a toggle V action for effecting relative movement between said guard and cap members, spring impelled means reciprocable relative to said cap member for holding a razor blade in a predetermined position between said members irrespective of their relative movement, and complemental means on said confronting guard and cap members to guide their relative movement in effecting the grasp of the blade along substantially the entire length thereof.

9. A method of handling razor blades which consists in confining a plurality of blades in a container having an opening, then successively rendering said blades accessible for registry with said opening, inserting a razor in the opening of said container for operative connection with the blade that is accessible through said casing open ing, then withdrawing the blade from'said container with said razor which effects the grasp of said blade in operative shaving position, and then closing said opening for confinement of the reremaining blades preparatory to indexing the successive blade for registry with the opening in said container to effect the repeated removal of blades therefrom to meet shaving requirements.

WILLIAM H. HUENERGARDT. 

